Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Ahmed al-Asiri

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the statement by the government of Bahrain that an attempted citizen's arrest of Maj Gen Ahmed al-Asiri, relating to alleged war crimes committed in Yemen by Saudi Arabia, was a "barbaric assault by a group of terrorists".

baroness anelay of st johns: The UK supports freedom of expression and peaceful protest as a fundamental right in itself and an essential element of a full range of human rights. This must, however, be within the law and it is for the Police to investigate any complaints.Following the incident on 30 March the Foreign Secretary had a conversation with the Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in which he expressed his regret at the disturbance to Major General Asiri's visit to London.

Israel: Gaza

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations are they making to the government of Israel regarding the reported contamination of water in the Gaza Strip.

baroness anelay of st johns: While we have not raised with the Israeli authorities any specific issue of contamination of water in the Gaza Strip, we do raise with them our concerns about the quality of water in the Occupied Territories. We have noted that the World Health Organisation has assessed that 90-95% of water in Gaza is undrinkable. UK technical assistance has aided the feasibility study of a proposed Gaza desalinisation plant.

Gaza: Cancer

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel regarding increasing rates of cancer in Gaza since 2008, and claims by Dr Khalid Thabet, head of the Oncology Department at the Shifa Hospital, that that increase may be linked to Israel's reported use of depleted uranium in 2008.

baroness anelay of st johns: While we have not raised this specific issue with the Israeli authorities, we continue to press for measures that will help relieve the humanitarian suffering of those in Gaza.It is not clear whether Israeli forces have used Depleted Uranium munitions in Gaza. We are conscious that there is some concern about a possible link between the use of Depleted Uranium (DU) ammunition and medical problems such as cancers and birth defects. Environmental monitoring in areas where DU munitions have been used has confirmed the presence of DU at levels far too low to have any detectable health impact. These observations are consistent with the findings of many agencies and with the recent World Health Organisation statement, that, “for the general population, neither civilian nor military use of DU is likely to produce radiation doses significantly above normal background levels”.

Israel: Palestinians

baroness afshar: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 3 April (HL Deb, col 844), what representations they have made to the government of Israel to respect the terms of the Balfour Declaration, and to cease the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands.

baroness anelay of st johns: It has long been the Government’s view that Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is governed by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, to which Israel is a state party. We repeatedly call on Israel to abide by its obligations under international law and have a regular dialogue with Israel on legal issues relating to the occupation, including settlements and the treatment of Palestinian children in military custody.

Syria: Military Intervention

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 20 March (HL Deb, col 10), what estimate they have made of the cost of providing practical support to rebel fighters in Syria since 1 January 2015.

baroness anelay of st johns: The UK has delivered over £100 million in non-humanitarian support to Syria, Jordan and Lebanon since the start of 2015 from the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund. This has focussed on strengthening the moderate opposition, which includes the High Negotiations Committee, civil society, local councils, human rights and media activists. This support is building resilience against extremists; fostering civil society in besieged areas; promoting human rights; delivering basic governance; and laying the foundations for a more peaceful and inclusive future for the people of Syria.

Syria: Military Intervention

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government in what ways they provide communications equipment or other practical support to the Free Syrian Army; and what assurance they can give that such support is not utilised by extremist groups.

baroness anelay of st johns: We have provided life-saving equipment, including communications, medical and logistics equipment, and equipment to protect against chemical weapons attacks to some groups. All recipients of such assistance are rigorously and regularly assessed to make sure that they are not involved in any extremist activity or human rights abuses. Many of the groups fighting the Asad regime are affiliated to the opposition umbrella organisation the High Negotiations Committee, which has set out a moderate and constructive vision for political transition, including respect for human rights and protection of all components of Syrian society.

Ahmed al-Asiri

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of reports that the Foreign Secretary called Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to apologise for the attempted citizen’s arrest of Major General Ahmed Asiri by activist Sam Waldron, whether the Foreign Secretary will call Sam Waldron regarding the reported remarks by the Bahraini Foreign Ministry describing him as a terrorist.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Foreign Secretary spoke to the Deputy Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and expressed regret at the events.The UK supports freedom of expression and peaceful protest as both a fundamental right in itself and as an essential element of a full range of human rights. Expressions must be within the law and it is for the Police to investigate any complaints.

Nabeel Rajab

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have called on the government of Bahrain to drop charges against Nabeel Rajab relating to the making of public statements, on the grounds of human rights, including freedom of the press.

baroness anelay of st johns: ​The British Government has raised concerns over the case of Nabeel Rajab with the Bahraini Government at senior levels. The judicial process is ongoing and we continue to monitor the case closely, with officials attending every hearing.

Sayed Alwadaei

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action the British Embassy in Bahrain is taking in relation to reports of reprisals against family members of Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, who has refugee status in the UK, including the reported arrest of his mother-in-law and brother-in-law on 2 March and allegations that they were tortured and interrogated in response to his activities in the UK.

baroness anelay of st johns: ​The Foreign and Commonwealth Office and our Embassy in Bahrain are monitoring this issue. We encourage all those with concerns about their treatment in detention to report these directly to the Ombudsman, and we urge the Bahraini Ombudsman to carry out thorough investigations into any such allegations.

Sayed Alwadaei

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have received since March any reports of torture used against, or ill-treatment of, family members of Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei, who has refugee status in the UK; and if so, whether those reports were recorded in accordance with the FCO’s guidance on reporting torture and mistreatment.

baroness anelay of st johns: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and our Embassy in Bahrain are monitoring this issue. They have received and logged one report in accordance with the FCO’s guidance on reporting torture and mistreatment. We encourage all those with concerns about their treatment in detention to report these directly to the Bahraini Ombudsman, and we urge the Ombudsman to carry out thorough investigations into any such allegations.

Iraq: Refugees

lord mcinnes of kilwinning: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with the government of Iraq regarding the return of refugees from religious minorities to Iraq.

baroness anelay of st johns: We engage regularly with the Government of Iraq at all levels on ensuring the safe return of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), including those from religious and ethnic minorities. We are working with the Government of Iraq and local authorities to improve the situation on the ground so that it is safe for people to return. That includes clearing Daesh from all remaining territory and addressing the threat from Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs).

RRS James Cook

lord steel of aikwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government why the RRS James Cook has been operating in the coastal waters of the Western Sahara; what was the nature of its research; and what instruments it deployed.

baroness anelay of st johns: The RRS James Cook is part of the Government funded national sustained observational programme called RAPID. This long-term programme’s aim is to monitor the meridional overturning circulation (MOC) in the North Atlantic at the latitude of 26 degrees north. The MOC determines the Atlantic ocean’s transport of heat, freshwater, carbon, and other environmental properties. It is central to understanding the role of the thermohaline circulation in global climate change. The RRS James Cook recovered and redeployed a number of oceanographic moorings fitted with conductivity and temperature sensors, which were distributed at a range of depths on moorings.

RRS James Cook

lord steel of aikwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the Saharawi authorities have made enquiries about the activities of the RRS James Cook in their territorial waters; if so when they will receive replies; and whether scientific data obtained by the vessel will be shared with the Saharawi authorities, pursuant to the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

baroness anelay of st johns: Sahrawi representatives contacted the National Oceanography Centre (NOC) on 3 March 2017 about the work of RRS James Cook in the eastern Atlantic. The UK regards the status of Western Sahara as undetermined and supports UN-led efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution to all parties, which provides self-determination for the Sahrawi people. As a non-self governing territory under Article 73 of the UN Charter, rights under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea should be provided by the administering power and for the benefit of the people of the territory with a view to promoting their well being and development. The NOC will share information with Morocco, who are the de facto administering power.

Sanctions

lord horam: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the answer by the Foreign Secretary on 28 March (HC Deb, col 117), whether the forthcoming White Paper will concern (1) their policy approach to sanctions co-operation with the EU after Brexit, (2) the implementation of such measures, or (3) both; and when that White Paper will be published.

baroness anelay of st johns: The White Paper is to be published very soon. As the Prime Minister has said, we will continue to work closely with our European allies in foreign and security policy. This includes our approach to sanctions, which are an important foreign policy tool.

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting

baroness sugg: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to capitalise on the opportunities for public engagement, trade and tourism presented by hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2018, both in London and across the UK.

baroness anelay of st johns: We are delighted to be hosting the Commonwealth Summit in London and Windsor in April 2018. Strengthening our relationship with the Commonwealth and all its members is a priority for the Government. No final decisions have yet been taken on the agenda or structure but through collaborating with a broad range of stakeholders, we plan to deliver an ambitious, creative and innovative Summit that engages the British public and makes the most of all the Commonwealth has to offer.

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Diseases

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the response by Lord Bates on 3 April (HL Deb, cols 930–1) concerning neglected tropical diseases, what study the Department for International Development has made of the use of technologies to map neglected tropical diseases using remote sensing technologies and mobile smartphone technologies.

lord bates: DFID funded the Global Trachoma Mapping Project, the largest infectious disease survey ever undertaken using mobile smartphones. DFID is also supporting disease mapping using mobile phones through the Tropical Data initiative. The first phase of this initiative is focussing on impact and surgery surveys for trachoma with mapping of other diseases added at a later date.

Africa: Snakes

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the response by Lord Bates on 3 April (HL Deb, cols 930–1) concerning neglected tropical diseases, how they are responding to Africa’s need for anti-venoms to treat snake bites, following the cessation of production by the major manufacturer.

lord bates: The UK Government is currently supporting the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, funded by Medical Research Council and DFID, to develop a new 'universal antivenom' to treat victims of any of the most venomous snakes that threaten human health in sub-Saharan Africa.DFID launched a call for expressions of interest for the development of new technologies on 30 March. This call highlights that DFID is particularly interested in a number of areas, including innovative technologies to improve health outcomes for the poorest living in low and middle income countries which are currently neglected by the global research and development community, such as new anti-venoms to treat snake bite.

Developing Countries: Sleeping Sickness

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the response by Lord Bates on 3 April (HL Deb, cols 930–1) concerning neglected tropical diseases, what further progress they expect to make in the elimination of sleeping sickness.

lord bates: The World Health Organization aims to eliminate sleeping sickness as a public health problem by 2020, building on the reduction from 300,000 new cases per year in 1995 to fewer than 3,000 in 2015. The UK supports this effort through research into better ways to diagnose and treat sleeping sickness, for example development of the first ever rapid diagnostic test through the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi), and an improved, less toxic new treatment through the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND).

Botswana: Earthquakes

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effects of the earthquake in central Botswana on 3 April, and whether they will ensure that the EU offers appropriate assistance to the government of Botswana.

lord bates: Reports from the most affected areas indicate only minor injuries and minimal damage from the earthquake on 3 April, and its aftershocks. We will continue to monitor developments and ensure that appropriate assistance is provided if requested by the Government of Botswana.

Department for Education

Technical Education: Qualifications

baroness garden of frognal: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Vere of Norbiton on 27 March (HL Deb, col 400), what criteria will be used to determine, on a case by case basis, whether qualifications which do not appear on the official Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Education register will be funded.

lord nash: The new technical education courses will provide training for occupations that are within the scope of routes and are identified as such by their inclusion on an occupational map. As the new qualifications are introduced from 2019 onwards, we expect to remove funding for other similar qualifications. We will provide more information nearer the time about the criteria that will be used to determine whether individual qualifications will continue to attract public funding.

Equal Pay

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action will be taken against companies that fail to comply with the gender pay gap reporting rules.

lord nash: Employers with over 250 employees have 12 months to publish the required information from the relevant commencement date: 31 March for the public sector and 6 April for the private, voluntary and charity sectors.The Government Equalities Office will proactively monitor the levels of compliance with the new regulations, and will continue to work closely with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to ensure that employers in scope fulfil their obligations to increase transparency around gender pay differences. Failure to comply would be unlawful and fall within the existing enforcement powers of the EHRC under the Equality Act 2006.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

LIFE

baroness barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government who made the decision to award the charity Life £250,000 from the Tampon Tax Fund.

lord ashton of hyde: We will shortly finalise the specifics of the grant agreements for each of the 70 projects that successfully applied to the Tampon Tax Fund this year, to ensure that taxpayers' money is put to the best use. We will only make grants where we are 100% certain that they align fully with the aims of the fund. The Minister for Civil Society will make the final decision on the grant award.

LIFE

baroness barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what outcomes the charity Life is required to deliver through its use of the £250,000 grant from the Tampon Tax Fund.

lord ashton of hyde: We will shortly finalise the specifics of the grant agreements for each of the 70 projects that successfully applied to the Tampon Tax Fund this year, to ensure that taxpayers' money is put to the best use. We will only make grants where we are 100% certain that they fully align with the aims of the fund.

LIFE

baroness barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the counselling service run by the charity Life will be funded by the £250,000 grant from the Tampon Tax Fund.

lord ashton of hyde: We will shortly finalise the specifics of the grant agreements for each of the 70 projects that successfully applied to the Tampon Tax Fund this year, to ensure that taxpayers' money is put to the best use. We will only make grants where we are 100% certain that they fully align with the aims of the fund. The Minister for Civil Society will make the final decision on the grant award.

LIFE

baroness barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether the £250,000 grant from the Tampon Tax Fund to the charity Life can be used to lobby HM Government.

lord ashton of hyde: No. In line with Government’s Standards for Grants, none of the grants made under the Tampon Tax Fund can be used to lobby HM Government. We will shortly finalise the specifics of the grant agreements for each of the 70 projects that successfully applied to the Tampon Tax Fund this year, to ensure that taxpayers’ money is put to best use. We will only make grants where we are 100% certain that they align with the aims of the fund.

Charities: Grants

baroness barker: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what measures are in place to evaluate the Tampon Tax Fund’s achievement of its objectives.

lord ashton of hyde: The Tampon Tax Fund provides grants to a wide range of organisations. Every grant recipient will have specific agreed outcomes against which its project will be monitored.

Imagination Technologies

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to give financial or other support to Imagination Technologies Group plc in order to protect jobs, following the announcement by Apple Inc that it intends to stop using Imagination’s technology; if so, what form that support will take; and what assessment they have made of the impact of that announcement on the UK’s digital technology sector.

lord ashton of hyde: It would not be appropriate to comment on this specific announcement which remains a commercial matter for the Imagination Technologies Group and Apple. More widely, through our recently published Digital Strategy, we have set out our commitment to create the best possible environment for our digital firms to thrive and to make the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a digital business. The digital sector is already worth £118bn a year to the UK economy, accounting for over 7 per cent of UK GVA, and employing 1.6 million people.

Channel Four Television: Public Appointments

lord ouseley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answers by Lord Ashton of Hyde on 4 April (HL6217 and HL6218), whether the female candidate who was not approved for appointment by the Secretary of State failed to meet the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.

lord ashton of hyde: Non-executive members of the Channel 4 Corporation board are appointed by Ofcom with the approval of the Secretary of State. The selection panel are responsible for interviewing candidates and identifying those who are appointable. Ofcom advertised for four vacancies for candidates with specific sector skills and experience and the Secretary of State approved the four candidates on the basis that they best met the skills and experience set out in the advertised job descriptions.

Department for Work and Pensions

State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what discussions they have had with pensioner organisations regarding the impact of the reduction in the exchange rate of the pound sterling on the incomes of citizens in receipt of the UK state pension who live outside the UK in (1) the EU, (2) the Overseas Territories, and (3) elsewhere in the world.

lord henley: The DWP does not hold information on pensioner incomes overseas. The exchange rate is always subject to fluctuation and as a result State Pension payments in other currencies will change depending on the exchange rate at the time.

State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many citizens living in each EU member state, other than the UK, are in receipt of the UK state pension.

lord henley: The UK State Pension is a contributory based pension payable worldwide regardless of nationality to those who meet the eligibility criteria. The table below shows the number of State Pension recipients resident in each EU country.  Recipients of the State Pension resident in EU countries, August 2016  CountryCaseloadIreland134,950Spain108,442France66,556Germany42,862Italy37,135Cyprus18,768Netherlands13,008Portugal10,675Malta6,491Greece5,998Sweden5,726Belgium5,407Austria5,255Denmark3,414Poland2,853Finland1,559Bulgaria1,182Hungary905The Czech Republic655Luxembourg600Croatia587Lithuania485Slovakia373Slovenia302Latvia259Romania174Estonia100 Source: Department for Work and Pensions Statistical disclosure control has been applied to this table to avoid the release of confidential data. Totals may not sum due to the disclosure control applied. August 2016 is the latest data available.Note that the DWP does not administer State Pensions for Northern Ireland. The figures above relate solely to those that are administered by the DWP.

State Retirement Pensions: British Nationals Abroad

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty’s Government which EU member states have individual reciprocal agreements with the UK regarding annual increases in the state pension.

lord henley: The United Kingdom’s reciprocal social security agreements with EU Member States as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are generally superseded by EU law. The reciprocal agreements with Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland all made provision regarding annual increases in the state pension.

Social Mobility

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by the Minister of State for Work and Pensions on 8 December 2016 (HC56144) stating that they intended to bring forward a social justice green paper in the new year, whether that remains their intention following publication on 4 April of Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families; and if so, when they expect that that green paper will be published.

lord henley: Improving Lives: Helping Workless Families forms part of the Government’s ambitious agenda for social reform. It sets out indicators and evidence that will provide a framework for continued action to drive improved outcomes for disadvantaged families and children, now and over time.

Arcadia Group: Pensions

lord myners: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they are investigating circumstances surrounding the pension deficit of Arcadia; and what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of the Pensions Regulator in overseeing the scheme and its governance.

lord henley: The regulatory oversight of work-based pension schemes, including funding issues, is a matter for the independent Pensions Regulator. The recent BHS settlement shows that there is a system in place for protecting the benefits of members of occupational pension schemes. The government remains confident in the effectiveness of the Regulator however, we have recently launched a consultation on Defined Benefit pensions to make sure the tools they have are appropriate and sustainable. The paper also covers a number of other areas of concern in the defined benefit sector, including the powers of the Regulator. This paper was laid before Parliament on 20 February 2017. The closing date for comments is 14 May 2017; responses can be submitted to the following postal address: DB ConsultationPrivate PensionsFirst FloorCaxton House6-12 Tothill StreetLondonSW1A 9NA

Occupational Pensions: Pension Funds

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to introduce legislation (1) prohibiting companies withdrawing moneys from their pension funds for any reason, or (2) requiring them to keep their funds topped up to the level recommended by actuaries.

lord henley: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 April 2017.The correct answer should have been:

Current legislation already requires schemes to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover the cost of paying future pensions when they fall due, or to put in place a recovery plan to ensure that the scheme returns to full funding within a reasonable period. It also prohibits the transfer of funds from the scheme to the employer apart from some limited circumstances and where there is a surplus.The Government’s Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Pension Schemes Green Paper explores a number of aspects of defined benefit pensions, including scheme funding arrangements and invites views. This paper was laid before Parliament on 20 February 2017.The closing date for comments is 14 May 2017; responses can be submitted to the following postal address:DB Consultation Private PensionsFirst FloorCaxton House6-12 Tothill StreetLondonSW1A 9NA

lord henley: Current legislation already requires schemes to have sufficient and appropriate assets to cover the cost of paying future pensions when they fall due, or to put in place a recovery plan to ensure that the scheme returns to full funding within a reasonable period. It also prohibits the transfer of funds from the scheme to the employer apart from some limited circumstances and where there is a surplus.The Government’s Security and Sustainability in Defined Benefit Pension Schemes Green Paper explores a number of aspects of defined benefit pensions, including scheme funding arrangements and invites views. This paper was laid before Parliament on 20 February 2017.The closing date for comments is 14 May 2017; responses can be submitted to the following postal address:DB Consultation Private PensionsFirst FloorCaxton House6-12 Tothill StreetLondonSW1A 9NA

Government Departments: Crimes of Violence

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, in the light of the attack on Nishat Ayman in the Department for Work and Pensions building at Caxton House on 24 March, what steps they are taking to prevent attacks against staff within government buildings.

lord henley: DWP treats the safety of individuals on its premises as paramount and as such has comprehensive physical and personnel security, as well as staff safety policies and procedures in place. Site security is reviewed and tested on a regular basis to help protect staff, buildings and assets from attack or compromise.

Home Office

Offences against Children: Internet

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the Internet Watch Foundation has the necessary legal powers and authority to remove non-photographic child sexual abuse images, in particular Manga and CGI-based material, as defined by the Coroners and Justice Act 2009, on (1) UK hosted, and (2) non-UK hosted, internet sites.

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what actions UK police have taken to (1) restrict access to, or (2) remove, non-photographic child sexual abuse material on (a) UK hosted, and (b) non-UK hosted, internet sites.

baroness williams of trafford: This Government is committed to eradicating online child sexual exploitation and that includes working with organisations like the Internet Watch Foundation. The IWF has no legal powers. It is a self-regulatory body but is the recognised UK authority in issuing notices to remove criminal child sexual abuse content.The IWF addresses reports concerning non-photographic images when they are hosted on UK websites where such images are believed to be criminal and are depicted on a website hosted in the UK, they will work in partnership with the hosting provider and NCA-CEOP to remove the content and provide information to assist investigations into its distribution.The IWF operates as a point of expertise for advice to their members on whether such images on their networks are potentially criminal and should be considered for investigation by the police.If the site is outside the UK, it is reported by the NCA to the host country via Interpol channels to take appropriate action.

Counter-terrorism

lord laird: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they have conducted any cost-benefit analysis of the counter-terorism security measures put in place over the last 20 years; and if so, what are the results of that analysis, who carried it out, and whether they will make it publicly available.

baroness williams of trafford: Government and the police undertake extensive work to assess terrorist threats and to ensure effective mitigations are in place. These measures are wide ranging and are implemented by numerous organisations, including across the private sector. The Government seeks to ensure that all appropriate and proportionate measures are implemented, and whilst mindful of cost-effectiveness, does not seek to put a price on the safety and security of the public.

Telephone Tapping: Members and Peers

lord eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what guidelines are in place for the Security Services relating to the monitoring of personal phone calls by Members of Parliament and members of the House of Lords; and how frequently such guidelines are reviewed, and by whom.

baroness williams of trafford: The Government’s position on the Wilson Doctrine was set out by the then Prime Minister in a written ministerial statement made on 4 November 2015. Since then the Government has passed the Investigatory Powers Act, which strengthens the protections for Parliamentarians and places the protections of the Wilson Doctrine into statute for the first time. The Investigatory Powers Act provides that an application for a targeted warrant to intercept or examine the communications of a Parliamentarian must be approved by the Secretary of State, a Judicial Commissioner and the Prime Minister.

UK Border Force: Northern Ireland

lord eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the adequacy of the numerical strength of the Border Force in Northern Ireland; what plans they have for recruitment; and how frequently that numerical strength is reviewed, and by whom.

baroness williams of trafford: This Government has ensured that sufficient resources are available to ensure the security of the border is not compromised. Security of the border cannot be measured by numbers of staff. Border Force uses a sophisticated combination of experienced officers, intelligence, data, technology and partnership working. Border Force resources within Northern Ireland are reviewed on regular basis as part of the wider Border Force business planning process which is led by the Director General of Border Force. There is currently an ongoing recruitment campaign within Northern Ireland.

Asylum

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their estimate of the number of refused asylum seekers currently in the UK who have no immediate prospect of leaving.

baroness williams of trafford: The UK has a long and proud tradition of providing a safe haven to those who genuinely need our protection. All asylum and human rights claims are carefully considered on their individual merits in accordance with the UK’s obligations under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and the European Convention on Human Rights. Where a decision has been made that a person does not require international protection, and there are no remaining rights of appeal or obstacles to their return, the Home Office expects unsuccessful asylum seekers to return voluntarily to their home country. The Home Office can assist persons who wish to return voluntarily. The Home Office’s preferred option is for those who have no legal basis to remain in the UK to leave voluntarily and we offer assistance to those who choose to do so. Further details can be viewed at; https://www.gov.uk/return-home-voluntarily/who-can-get-help But if an individual does not leave the UK voluntarily, then it will become necessary to enforce their removal. The Home Office closely monitors developments in all countries of return and takes decisions on a case-by-case basis in the light of international obligations and the latest available country information. The Home Office only enforces removal when it and the courts conclude that it is safe to do so, with a safe route of return. Enforced removals are carried out in the most sensitive way possible, treating those being removed with respect and courtesy. Details of total numbers of cases who have had asylum claims refused and have no basis to remain having exhausted all appeal rights can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asylum-transparency-data-february-2017

Asylum: Children

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what children's best interest evaluation has been made of their policy to refuse children entitled to asylum in the UK the family reunion rights granted to adults since the removal of the UK's immigration reservation to the 1989 UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 2008.

baroness williams of trafford: The current family reunion policy meets our international obligations. Widening it to allow children to sponsor family members would create additional motives for them to be encouraged, or even forced, to leave their family, and risk hazardous journeys to seek to enter the UK illegally. This would play into the hands of criminal gangs who exploit vulnerable people, and goes against our safeguarding responsibilities. The Government believes that the best interests of children are reflected in their remaining with their families and claiming asylum in the first safe country they reach; this is the fastest route to safety.

UK Border Force: Maritime Volunteer Service

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they intend to utilise the Maritime Volunteer Service to assist the UK Border Force in patrolling and ensuring the security of UK inshore waters.

baroness williams of trafford: Border Force is maximising the security of the UKs coastline and inshore waterways through a variety of means. For example, the Project KRAKEN network is directed at public spirited volunteers who provide ‘intelligence’ based on any unusual activity observed. Border Force is extending Kraken’s reach and will work with the Maritime Volunteer Service to ensure that they are fully engaged. Border security is a priority for this Government. We are committed to countering threats to the UK coastline using an intelligence-led approach and through working with the wider law enforcement community. Border Force has long-standing working relationships and intelligence-sharing practices in place, and is increasing interaction with key partners as well as undertaking joint operations in order to disrupt organised criminal gangs who will seek to exploit any border weaknesses. Whilst training and duty of care issues mean that it might not be appropriate for Border Force to directly task the Maritime Volunteer Service their voluntary participation within these existing programs is very welcome.

HM Treasury

Environment Protection: Finance

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what steps they will take to match, post-Brexit, the funding provided by the European Investment Bank for the environment and water industry within the UK; and what long-term plans they intend to have in place to guarantee future funding.

baroness neville-rolfe: The Government is in the process of assessing the contribution the EIB makes in the UK, including in the water sector, but we are clear that the future relationship between the UK and the EIB will be a matter for the Article 50 negotiations.

National Insurance Contributions: Self-employed

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their response to the gender analysis undertaken by the Women’s Budget Group of the proposed national insurance changes relating to the self-employed, published on 20 March in their report Gender impact assessment of the Spring Budget 2017.

baroness neville-rolfe: As the Chancellor set out in his statement to Parliament on 15 March, the Government will no longer be proceeding with the changes announced at Spring Budget 2017 to increase Class 4 National NICs in April 2018 and April 2019.

Northern Ireland Office

Northern Ireland Government

lord eames: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have for the governing of Northern Ireland in the event of failure to reach an agreement in the present inter-party talks conducted by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

lord dunlop: We remain focused on securing the resumption of devolved government in Northern Ireland. However in its absence it is ultimately for the UK Government to provide for political stability and good governance in Northern Ireland. If talks fail in their objectives and no agreement is reached following the Easter recess, we will have to consider a range of options. The Government has, however, been clear that when considering the options available, any form of joint authority would be incompatible with the consent principle committed to in the 1998 Belfast Agreement. As the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland made clear in his statement to the House of Commons on 28 March, at a minimum we would seek to bring forward legislation to set a regional rate to enable collection of the rates to go ahead, and to take steps to provide further assurance around the budget for Northern Ireland.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

lord tebbit: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many prosecutions for acts of terrorism in Northern Ireland were made (1) in each of the five years prior to the making of the Good Friday Agreement on 10 April 1998, and (2) in each year from the making of that Agreement until the devolution of policing and criminal justice on 12 April 2010.

lord tebbit: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many persons convicted of acts of Northern Ireland-related terrorism have been granted early release from prison since 10 April 1998.

lord dunlop: Northern Ireland Office officials are currently undertaking a consolidation exercise to confirm the answer to these questions. I will write to my Noble Friend once this exercise has been completed.

Terrorism: Northern Ireland

lord tebbit: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many letters of comfort were issued to on-the-runs (1) in the five years before 10 April 1998, and (2) between that date and 12 April 2010.

lord dunlop: It is assumed that by ‘letters of comfort’ my Noble Friend means those letters issued under the administrative scheme introduced by the previous Labour Government which were intended to inform individuals that, as at the date of the letter, the recipient was ‘not wanted’ for questioning or prosecution in Northern Ireland or the rest of the UK. Prior to 10 April 1998, no such letters were issued. The first such letters were signed by Mr Jonathan Powell (the then Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff) and were sent to Sinn Féin on 15 June 2000. A total of 156 individual such letters were issued during the scheme, 144 were issued prior to 12 April 2010. The following table provides more detail of all letters that were issued.  2000 During the year: (a) 2 individuals received the above mentioned letters from Jonathan Powell, the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff; (b) 0 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2001During the year: (a) 16 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office; (b) 0 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2002During the year: (a) 17 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office; (b) 19 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2003During the year: (a) 9 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office; (b) 23 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2004During the year: (a) 0 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office; (b) 0 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2005During the year: (a) 4 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office (1 of whom had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 17 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin for the first time that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland” (in the cases of 12 of those individuals it appears that Sinn Féin had already been notified of that fact at a meeting). A further 46 are similarly informed during the year and had been also advised as such at an earlier time by the Northern Ireland Office. 2006During the year: (a) 8 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office (2 of whom had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 5 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2007During the year: (a) 58 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office (35 of whom had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 0 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2008During the year: (a) 6 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office (2 of them were on the Irish Government List and 1 had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 1 individual informed in writing for the first time by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”; a further 7 individuals are similarly informed during the year and had also been advised as such at an earlier time by the Northern Ireland Office. 2009During the year: (a) 21 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office (2 of whom receive the same letter on two separate occasions, and 10 others of whom had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 5 individuals informed by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2010During the year: (a) 11 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office (4 of whom had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 5 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin for the first time that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. A further 29 individuals are similarly informed during the year and had also been advised as such at an earlier time by the Northern Ireland Office. In addition, 4 individuals are informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin for the first time that they were “wanted for return to prison in Northern Ireland” but were “eligible to apply to the Sentence Review Commissioners for early release”. 2 of those 4 individuals had previously been informed that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2011During the year: (a) 1 individual received an above mentioned letter from the Northern Ireland Office (the individual had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 1 individual informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”. 2012During the year: (a) 3 individuals received the above mentioned letters from the Northern Ireland Office (1 of whom had previously been informed that they were ‘wanted’); (b) 0 individuals informed in writing by the Northern Ireland Office via Sinn Féin that they “would face arrest and questioning if they returned to Northern Ireland”.

Department of Health

NHS: Drugs

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Shaughnessy on 28 March (HL6071), how much of the 20 per cent increase in NHS expenditure on medicines between 2010–11 and 2015–16 related to the introduction of medicines approved by NICE.

lord o'shaughnessy: The information requested is not available. NHS Digital has advised that estimated National Health Service spend on medicines recommended in National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisals increased by £758.9 million between 2014/15 and 2015/16, which compares to an overall increase in estimated NHS medicines spend of £1,247.1 million over the same period. Information on NHS spend on medicines recommended in NICE technology appraisals is not available for 2010/11 to 2013/14. This represents the cost of the medicines at NHS list price and not necessarily the price paid. It does not take account of discounts, dispensing costs, fees or prescription charges income.

NHS: Drugs

lord warner: To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord O’Shaughnessy on 28 March (HL6071), whether it is the responsibility of NICE to take the decision to extend the implementation period of a new drug technology under the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Constitution and Functions) and the Health and Social Care Information Centre (Functions) Regulations 2013; and to what extent representations are entertained by (1) the Secretary of State for Health, and (2) NHS England in respect of such decisions.

lord o'shaughnessy: National Health Service commissioners are legally required to fund drugs and treatments recommended in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal guidance. NICE is responsible for specifying the period within which NHS commissioners are required to make funding available for a NICE recommended treatment, and the regulations provide that the funding period will normally be three months from the point of final guidance. The regulations make provision for NICE to specify a longer funding period where there are significant barriers to implementation of a NICE-recommended technology within three months. In such cases, NICE must consult the Secretary of State, NHS England and other relevant bodies about the appropriate funding period.

Health Services and Social Services

lord bradley: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that there are no legislative barriers to the integration of health and social care services and budgets.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Government is committed to supporting further integration of health and social care. This includes giving due consideration to the need for changes to the legislative framework where this is identified as a barrier to effective integration, and when these changes are in the best interests of the wider health and care system.

School Milk

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to promote the benefits of school and nursery milk as part of their childhood obesity strategy.

lord o'shaughnessy: As part of the Childhood Obesity Plan, the Government will publish and promote example menus for early years settings in England later this year. This will help settings to meet the latest Government dietary recommendations.Where the school food standards apply, milk must be available during school hours and offered free to disadvantaged pupils, and free milk is also available to infants if served as part of their lunch.

Antidepressants

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many NHS prescriptions for anti-depressants were written in (1) 2010, and (2) 2015; and what was their estimated cost.

lord o'shaughnessy: Information from the Prescription Cost Analysis system regarding the number of antidepressant prescription items written in the United Kingdom and dispensed in the community in England, for the years 2010 and 2015 is shown in the following table. Total number and Net Ingredient Cost (NIC) of antidepressant prescription items written in the UK and dispensed in the community in England in 2010 and 2015 for British National Formulary Section 4.3 antidepressants. YearItemsNIC (£)201042,787,966220,372,789201561,021,611284,745,611 Source: Prescription Cost Analysis.

Antidepressants

lord brooke of alverthorpe: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is NHS policy for general practitioners prescribing anti-depressants to patients whose depression relates to the effects of alcohol.

lord o'shaughnessy: There is no single National Health Service policy for the prescribing of antidepressants to those individuals whose depression is linked to the effects of alcohol. However, clinicians are expected to prescribe such medication in accordance with best practice and any available guidance. Under the terms of their contract with NHS England, general practitioners (GPs) are required to identify any patient, over the age of 16, who is drinking alcohol at increasing or higher risk levels by using either of two of the World Health Organization’s Alcohol Use Disorders Identification questionnaires. Where a patient is identified as such, GPs must also ensure the patient is assessed for anxiety and depression, is offered screening for anxiety and depression and where this is diagnosed, ensure the patient is provided with any treatment or support which may be required – including referral for specialist mental health treatment. It is a clinical decision of the individual GP to decide what treatment is most appropriate taking into account any relevant National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance and professional advice from the Royal Colleges.

Heart Diseases: Surgery

baroness gardner of parkes: To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many operations treating congenital heart conditions were conducted by the Royal Brompton Hospital in London in each of the last three years for (1) adults, and (2) children; and which other hospitals in England and Wales conducted as many, or more, such operations during that period.

lord o'shaughnessy: The Royal Brompton Hospital conducted a total of 522 operations for congenital heart disease (CHD) conditions in 2015/16, comprising 390 operations for children and 132 operations for adults. In 2014/15, the Royal Brompton’s surgical activity comprised 512 operations for CHD conditions, which included 370 operations for children and 142 operations for adults. Surgical activity in 2013/14 at the Royal Brompton comprised 412 CHD operations for children and 125 CHD operations for adults, which gives a total of 537 CHD operations for that year. The hospitals in England and Wales which conducted as many, or more, congenital heart disease operations for children and adults between 2013 and 2016 are Great Ormond Street Hospital, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, Leeds Children’s Hospital, Alder Hey Children’s Hospital, University College Hospital London, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London.